JP5910475B2 - Raw material feeder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a raw material feeder provided in an extrusion molding apparatus, and more particularly to a raw material feeder for molding a resin product using a rod-shaped resin material.

Conventionally, as a technique for manufacturing an optical transmission body such as an optical fiber, an extrusion method using gas pressure is known.
As shown in FIG. 11, an optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 using an extrusion method using gas pressure includes an extrusion molding apparatus 1a including a core material supply machine 4A, a clad material supply machine 4A, and a mold D. The dopant diffusion tube 5, the roll 6, and the winding machine 7 are provided (for example, the following patent document 1).
As shown in FIG. 12, a raw material supply unit 4A of the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 includes a raw material storage unit 8 that stores a rod-shaped resin material R in a cylindrical internal space extending in one direction, and a distal end side thereof. A heating and melting portion 9 provided to heat the tip portion R1 of the rod-shaped resin material R to form a molten resin M (hereinafter, the raw material storage portion and the heating and melting portion are collectively referred to as a “hopper”); An adapter (not shown) formed with a flow path installed between the molds D, and a gas pressurizing means for extruding the molten resin M from the discharge port 9a of the heating and melting unit 9 using gas pressure and supplying it into the adapter 10.

  And when manufacturing an optical transmission body using the optical transmission body manufacturing equipment 1, first, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, rod-shaped resin material R made of various raw materials is supplied to raw material supply machines 4A and 4A. The resin material R that is housed in each of them and sent to the heating and melting part 9 is heated, and the molten resin M is formed in order from the front end portion R1. Next, the molten resin M is extruded from these raw material supply machines 4A and 4A and supplied to the mold D. In the mold D, a clad layer is laminated on the outer periphery of the core layer, and sent to the dopant diffusion tube 5 to diffuse the dopant. A linear body F1 having a predetermined refractive index distribution and discharged from the dopant diffusion tube 5 is formed to have a predetermined diameter by a roll 6, and is set as an optical transmission body F2 wound around a winding machine 7.

International Publication No. 2010/109938

  By the way, the extrusion molding apparatus 1a used in the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 is such that the hoppers of the raw material feeders 4A and 4A are connected to the adapter (not shown) one by one in a batch manner. When R was consumed for one rod, it was necessary to stop the operation of the extrusion molding apparatus 1a or the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 and fill with a new resin material R. Therefore, there is a problem in that the production efficiency of the optical transmission body F2 is reduced because the drive of the extrusion molding apparatus 1a must be stopped for filling the rod-shaped resin material R.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the raw material supply machine which can operate | move continuously also at the time of supply of a resin material in view of the said problem.

The present invention comprises a raw material storage part that stores a resin material in an internal space extending in one direction, and a heating and melting part that is provided on the tip side of the raw material storage part and heats the resin material to make a molten resin, A raw material comprising: a hopper for extruding the molten resin from a discharge port formed in the heating and melting part; and an adapter for allowing the molten resin extruded from the discharge port to flow from an inflow port and discharging the molten resin into a mold in feeder, the hopper is provided with a plurality, and the plurality of hoppers and said adapter, said plurality of at least any one of the discharge port of the hopper is always communicated with the inlet of the adapter, the other discharge port closed It is relatively movable to each of the discharge ports of the plurality of hopper, by relative movement between said plurality of hoppers adapter, the inflow port of the adapter and A state in which through to a state occluded, characterized in that is switched.
With this configuration, since the inlet of the adapter is relatively movable so as to always communicate with at least one discharge port of the plurality of hoppers, the resin material is consumed in one hopper. When it disappears, it can switch to another hopper, without interrupting supply of molten resin.

The raw material supply machine according to the present invention has an air vent channel through which the other discharge port communicates and discharges air in the other hopper when the inflow port communicates with the one discharge port. Or, when the inflow port is in communication with the other discharge port, at least one of the air vent channels through which the one discharge port communicates and can discharge the air in the one hopper Is preferably formed on the adapter.
With this configuration, a hopper that is not in communication with the inlet is operated, and molten resin is supplied to the air vent flow path, so that it accumulates in the outlet that is not in communication with the inlet, that is, the outlet of the waiting hopper. Air can be discharged from the adapter.

In the raw material supply machine according to the present invention, a surface of the adapter having an opening at the inlet is formed on a curved surface, and the plurality of hoppers are arranged along the curved surface, and on the curved surface. It is desirable that the sliding member is provided so as to be movable relative to the adapter.
With this configuration, when the discharge ports are brought into contact with the curved surface, the hoppers can be extended in a direction in which the hoppers are gradually separated from each other. The relative movement distance at the time can be reduced.

  According to the raw material supply machine according to the present invention, the molten resin can be continuously supplied from a plurality of hoppers to the adapter and the mold, and it is necessary to stop the operation of the raw material supply machine while filling a new resin material. Therefore, the productivity of the resin molded product can be improved.

It is process drawing which shows the process switched from one hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to the other hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process switched from one hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to the other hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process switched from one hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to the other hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process switched from one hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to the other hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process of switching from the other hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to one hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process of switching from the other hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention to one hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process switched from the other hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention to one hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process switched from the other hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention to one hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process of switching from the other hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention to one hopper. It is process drawing which shows the process of switching from the other hopper of the raw material supply machine which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention to one hopper. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional optical transmission body manufacturing equipment. It is the sectional side view which showed the conventional hopper.

(First embodiment)
The raw material supply machine 4A of the extrusion molding apparatus 1a according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 11, and FIG. In this embodiment, the raw material supply machine 4A will be described as an example applicable to the extrusion molding apparatus 1a or the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 includes an extrusion molding apparatus 1 a including raw material supply machines 4 </ b> A and 4 </ b> A and a mold D, a dopant diffusion tube 5, and a winder 7. .
The raw material feeders 4A and 4A are filled with a resin material for the core layer or a resin material for the cladding layer, and are installed in the mold D.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the raw material feeder 4A includes two hoppers 2a and 2b each having the same configuration as the conventional hopper shown in FIG. 12, and between the hoppers 2a and 2b and the mold D. And an adapter 3A installed in the.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the hoppers 2a and 2b have a frame (not shown) such that the discharge ports 9a and 9b having a circular cross section are opened downward at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction. It is fixed to. Further, a flat plate member 17 is provided between the discharge ports 9a and 9b of the hoppers 2a and 2b. The hoppers 2a and 2b can reciprocally move on a straight line relative to the adapter 3A by a drive mechanism (not shown) with the flat plate member 17 interposed.

  The adapter 3A includes a flat plate surface 3s on which the discharge ports 9a and 9b of the hoppers 2a and 2b are arranged to face each other. On the flat surface 3s, a groove-like introduction flow path 15 is formed extending from a position facing the discharge port 9a toward a position facing the discharge port 9b. This introduction flow path 15 extends with a dimension shorter than the diameter between the discharge ports 9a and 9b by the diameter of the discharge port 9a or the discharge port 9b, and an opening opened upward becomes the inflow port 15a. Yes.

The introduction flow path 15 communicates with a molding flow path 11 that extends linearly toward the surface 3t opposite to the flat plate surface 3s and opens on the opposite side surface 3t. The molten resin M is allowed to flow through the molding flow path 11 to spin the molten resin M.
The adapter 3 </ b> A is mounted on a frame (not shown) so that the hoppers 2 a and 2 b are reciprocated relatively in the extending direction of the introduction flow path 15.

  Under the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the discharge passage 9a of one hopper 2a is brought closer to the one end 16a side of the introduction flow passage 15 of the adapter 3A so that the introduction flow passage 15 and the discharge port 9a are connected. When communicating, the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b comes into contact with the flat plate surface 3s and is closed. At this time, the inflow port 15a is covered and closed by a flat plate member 17 provided between the hoppers 2a and 2b except for a region communicating with the discharge port 9a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), when the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b is brought close to the other end 16b side of the introduction flow channel 15 of the adapter 3A to cause the introduction flow channel 15 and the discharge port 9b to communicate with each other. The discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is in contact with the flat plate surface 3s to be closed. At this time, the inflow port 15a is covered and closed by a flat plate member 17 provided between the hoppers 2a and 2b except for a region communicating with the discharge port 9b.

In the middle of moving the hoppers 2a, 2b relative to the adapter 3A as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the inflow port 15a is located across the discharge port 9a and the discharge port 9b, The molten resin M is supplied from both the hoppers 2a and 2b to the introduction channel 15 and the molding channel 11 in communication with each part of the discharge ports 9a and 9b. At this time, the amount of molten resin M supplied from the hoppers 2a and 2b is ensured by the amount of molten resin M supplied when the discharge port 9a or the discharge port 9b is completely open to the inlet 15a of the adapter 3A. It is decided to do so.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the hoppers 2a and 2b are further moved in the direction of the arrow L1 and the discharge port 9b is brought close to the one end 16a side of the introduction flow path 15 and communicated, the introduction flow path 15 Except for the region communicating with the discharge port 9b, the inlet 15a is closed by a closing member (not shown), the molten resin M is supplied from one end 16a, and the molten resin M flows through the introduction flow path 15 and flows. The molten resin M is sequentially pushed out toward the molding flow path 11 so as not to stay.

  Examples of the rod-shaped resin material R to be used include a polymer of a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer and a polymer of a styrene monomer that are highly transparent and can be used for optical transmission. As (meth) acrylic acid ester monomers, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, etc. ; As the styrenic monomer, styrene, α-methylstyrene, chlorostyrene, bromostyrene, or the like, or a copolymer thereof is used. Other copolymerization components such as vinyl acetate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl phenyl acetate, vinyl chloroacetate, etc .; Nn-butylmaleimide, N-tert-butylmaleimide, N-isopropylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, etc. The maleimides are exemplified. In addition, polycarbonate plastic, cycloolefin plastic, amorphous fluorine plastic, and the like can also be used.

Next, a method for continuously producing an optical transmission body by the extrusion molding apparatus 1a having the above configuration and an operation of the raw material supply machine 4A will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 1A, rod-like resin materials R and R of the same kind are filled into the raw material storage portions 8 and 8 of the hoppers 2a and 2b. Then, the discharge port 9a is moved toward the one end 16a side of the inflow port 15a, and the hopper 2a and the adapter 3A are arranged so that the discharge port 9a and the inflow port 15a communicate with each other.

  And one hopper 2a is driven, the front-end | tip part R1 of the rod-shaped resin material R is heated in the heating-melting part 9, and the molten resin M is produced | generated gradually. The molten resin M generated in the heating and melting section 9 is extruded toward the discharge port 9a by the gas pressure, and is successively supplied from the inflow port 15a to the inflow path 15 and the molding flow path 11 of the adapter 3A. After the molten resin M that has passed through the adapter 3A is supplied to the mold D, it is sent to the dopant diffusion tube 5 shown in FIG. 11, where the dopant is diffused to give a predetermined refractive index distribution. Thereafter, the light is discharged from the dopant diffusion tube 5 and formed into a predetermined diameter by the roll 6 to become an optical transmission body F, which is wound around the winding machine 7.

  In this way, when the rod-shaped resin material R is processed into the molten resin M in one hopper 2a and supplied toward the adapter 3A, the resin material R in the one hopper 2a is gradually consumed. Therefore, before the remaining amount of the resin material R in one hopper 2a reaches a predetermined amount, driving of the other hopper 2b is started, and melting of the resin material R in the hopper 2b is started. When the remaining amount of the resin material R in one hopper 2a reaches a predetermined amount, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the hoppers 2a and 2b are connected to the adapter 3A by the discharge port 9b. 15 is moved relatively in the direction positioned above, that is, in the direction of the arrow L1 in FIG.

  When relative movement between the hoppers 2a and 2b and the adapter 3A is started, the inlet 15a is gradually separated from the discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a, and the area of the opening communicated with the discharge port 9a is gradually reduced. The molten resin M is continuously supplied from the discharge port 9a communicating with the discharge port 9a. On the other hand, the inlet 15a of the adapter 3A communicates with the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b, and in order to increase the gradually opened opening area, the molten resin M in the hopper 2b is introduced from the communicated discharge port 9b. 15 to the forming channel 11.

  When the hoppers 2a and 2b further move relative to the adapter 3A in the direction of the arrow L1, and the discharge port 9b communicates with the other end 16b of the inflow port 15a as shown in FIG. The discharge port 9a of 2a is completely separated from the inflow port 15a, is closed by the flat plate surface 3s, and the supply of the molten resin M from the one hopper 2a is stopped.

Accordingly, while the discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is closed and the molten resin M is supplied to the adapter 3A by the other hopper 2b, a new rod-shaped resin is placed in the raw material storage portion 8 of the one hopper 2a. Material R can be filled.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the hoppers 2a and 2b are further moved relative to each other in the direction of the arrow L1, and the discharge port 9b is brought into communication with the one end 16a of the introduction flow path 15 so that the molten resin M has one end. It is supplied from the 16a side, flows through the introduction channel 15, and moves toward the molding channel 11 so as not to stay in the introduction channel 15 while extruding the molten resin M remaining in the introduction channel 15. Extruded sequentially.

Thus, according to the raw material supply machine 4A, the drive of the other hopper 2b is started at the timing when the molten resin M remains in one hopper 2a, and the hopper 2a is switched between the hoppers 2a and 2b. , 2b, the supply of the molten resin M into the adapter 3A is continuously performed without interruption.
And even when the rod-shaped resin material R in the other hopper 2b is consumed and decreases after switching, the hoppers 2a and 2b are moved relative to each other in the direction opposite to the direction shown in FIGS. In the same manner as described above, the other hopper 2b can be switched to one hopper 2a without interrupting the supply of the molten resin M to the adapter 3A. After switching, while the molten resin M is being supplied to the adapter 3A by one hopper 2a, the other hopper 2b can be filled with a new rod-shaped resin material R.

  Further, when the hoppers 2a and 2b are moved to the positions shown in FIG. 2B, the adapter 3A is formed so that the discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is detached from the flat plate surface 3s of the adapter 3A. Therefore, at this time, the raw material remaining in one hopper 2a can be completely discharged. Then, a new material can be filled in the one hopper 2a.

  As described above, according to the raw material supply machine 4A, the two hoppers 2a and 2b are installed in the adapter 3A, and at least one discharge port 9a or the discharge port 9b and the introduction flow path 15 can always communicate with each other. 2a and 2b can be moved relative to the adapter 3A. Therefore, when the remaining amount of the resin material R in one hopper 2a supplying the molten resin M reaches a predetermined amount, the supply of the molten resin M is not stopped and the other hopper 2b is passed through the adapter 3A. At the same time as switching, a new material R can be filled in one hopper 2a and a standby can be made when the remaining material R of the other hopper 2b is low. Similarly, when the remaining amount of the resin material R in the other hopper 2b supplying the molten resin M reaches a predetermined amount, the supply of the molten resin M to the adapter 3A is stopped without stopping the one hopper. In addition to switching to 2a, the other hopper 2b can be filled with a new material R and wait for when the material R of the one hopper 2a becomes low again. Therefore, the raw material feeder 4A can effectively avoid stopping the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 when the resin material R in the hopper 2a or the hopper 2b is cut, and the production efficiency of the optical transmission body can be reduced. Can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 5A, the adapter 3B of the raw material supply machine 4B is a so-called standby that is not in communication with the introduction flow path 15 apart from the introduction flow path 15 and the molding flow path 11. Air vent channels 25 and 26 for discharging air K existing in the discharge port 9b of the hopper 2b in the state or the discharge port 9a of the hopper 2a are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the air vent channel 25, when one hopper 2a is located on one end 16a side of the inlet 15a and supplies the molten resin M, the other hopper 2b is in a standby state. The other hopper 2b is composed of a through hole opened at a position facing the discharge port 9b. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the other hopper 2b is positioned on the one end 16a side of the inflow port 15a and one of the hoppers 2a is in a standby state, It is formed as a through hole opened at a position facing the discharge port 9a of the hopper 2a.

The effect | action by the air vent flow paths 25 and 26 which consist of the said structure is demonstrated using FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3 (a), when the discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is positioned on the one end 16a side of the inflow port 15a and communicated, and the molten resin M is supplied, the resin material of the one hopper 2a The remaining R becomes less and it is time to switch to the other hopper 2b. Therefore, when the heat melting of the resin material R in the other hopper 2b is started, the molten resin M is extruded into the air vent channel 25 (see arrow P in FIG. 3B). The air K staying in the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b by the extrusion of the molten resin M is completely discharged from the discharge port 9b. Next, when the hoppers 2a and 2b are relatively moved in the direction of the arrow L1 in FIG. 4, the molten resin M is pushed out from the other hopper 2b to the introduction flow path 15 in a state where air bleeding is completed. The hoppers 2a and 2b are also moved while the discharge port 9b moves from the position where the discharge port 9b communicates with the air vent channel 25 shown in FIG. 3B to the position on the other end 16b side of the introduction channel 15 shown in FIG. The molten resin M is extruded from both the hopper 2b and the hopper 2a into the introduction flow path 15, and the molten resin M is continuously supplied into the adapter 3B.

FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 6 show the operation of air bleeding when switching from the other hopper 2b to one of the waiting hoppers 2a.
As shown in FIG. 5A, when the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b is located close to the one end 16a side of the inflow port 15a and the molten resin M is supplied to the adapter 3B, the other hopper 2b The resin material R reaches a predetermined remaining amount, and it is time to switch to one hopper 2a. Therefore, heating and melting of the resin material R newly accommodated in one hopper 2a is started, and the molten resin M is pushed out into the air vent channel 26 as shown in FIG. By the extrusion of the molten resin M, the air K staying in the discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is completely discharged.

  Next, when the hoppers 2a and 2b move relative to each other in the direction of the arrow L2 in FIG. 6, the molten resin M is pushed into the introduction flow path 15 from the discharge port 9a in which the air removal of one hopper 2a is completed. The hoppers 2a and 2b also introduce the molten resin M from the discharge port 9b or from the discharge port 9b and the discharge port 9a during the relative movement from the position shown in FIG. 5B to the position shown in FIG. It can be extruded into the channel 15 to ensure continuous supply of the molten resin M to the adapter 3B.

  The raw material supply machine 4B having the above-described configuration performs the extrusion of the molten resin M to the introduction flow path 15 after completely discharging the air K existing in the discharge ports 9a and 9b of the hoppers 2a and 2b. It is possible to prevent the air K from being mixed into the molten resin M extruded to 15, and the quality of the optical transmission body can be effectively improved.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first or second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
While the surface of the adapter 3B in which the hoppers 2a and 2b in the first and second embodiments described above are arranged to face each other is formed as a flat surface, the adapter 3C of the raw material feeder 4C has a curved surface as shown in FIG. Is formed. Further, in the adapter 3 </ b> C, the introduction channel 15 is integrated with the molding channel 11, and the inflow port 15 a is opened above the molding channel 11. Therefore, the molten resin M pushed out from the hoppers 2a and 2b to the inlet 15a is smoothly delivered to the adapter 3C.

  The hoppers 2a and 2b of the raw material feeder 4C are fixed to a frame (not shown) toward the center point of the curved surface 3r of the adapter 3C. The hoppers 2a and 2b can slide along the curved surface 3r of the adapter 3C.

Hereinafter, the switching operation of the raw material supply machine 4C will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7A, when the molten resin M is extruded from the other hopper 2b toward the inflow port 15a, the remaining amount of the resin material R in the other hopper 2b decreases. Then, at the timing before switching to one hopper 2a, the driving of the hopper 2a is started, and when a part of the resin material R becomes the molten resin M, the hoppers 2a and 2b are shown in FIG. As shown, it is moved relatively in the direction of arrow L3 along the curved surface 3r. Thereby, the molten resin M is extruded from both the hoppers 2a and 2b.

  When the hoppers 2a and 2b are further moved relative to each other and the discharge port 9a of the hopper 2a is positioned at a position communicating with the molding flow path 11 in accordance with the inflow port 15a as shown in FIG. 8, the other hopper The discharge port 9b of 2b is completely spaced from the inlet 15a of the adapter 3C and is closed, the supply of the molten resin M from the other hopper 2b is stopped, and the extrusion of the molten resin M is performed only from one hopper 2a. Become. The supply of the molten resin M from the other hopper 2b is stopped in a state where the resin material R remains in the other hopper 2b. When the resin material R is left in the other hopper 2b, air can be prevented from being mixed into the inlet 15a of the adapter 3C via the other hopper 2b. It is possible to prevent deterioration of quality. Therefore, the rotational speeds of the hoppers 2a and 2b are determined so as to satisfy such a condition.

  Further, switching from one hopper 2a to the other hopper 2b is performed in reverse to the switching operation of FIGS. 7 (a), (b), and FIG.

  In the raw material feeder 4C having the above-described configuration, any one of the discharge ports 9a and 9b is formed into a molding flow even when switching from one hopper 2a to the other hopper 2b or from the other hopper 2b to the one hopper 2a. Since it communicates with the path 11, the molten resin M can be continuously supplied to the adapter 3C. Therefore, when the resin material R is cut, the raw material supply machine 4C having the above configuration can avoid the operation stop of the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 shown in FIG. 11 and improve the production efficiency of the optical transmission body. Can do.

  In addition, since the discharge ports 9a and 9b are brought into contact with the curved surface 3r, the raw material storage portions 8 and 8 are extended substantially radially in a direction in which the raw material storage portions 8 and 8 are gradually separated from each other. By narrowing the gap between the outlets 9a and 9b as much as possible, the relative movement distance when switching the hoppers 2a and 2b, that is, the introduction flow path (not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) is made as small as possible. The effect of being able to be obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
9 (a) and 9 (b) show a raw material supply machine 4D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The raw material supply unit 4D is configured to release air K in the discharge ports 9a and 9b of the waiting hoppers 2a and 2b in the above-described raw material supply unit 4C as in the above-described raw material supply unit 4B. 27 and 28 are formed in the adapter 3D. That is, the air vent channels 27 and 28 are formed in the adapter 3D of the raw material feeder 4D adjacent to the molding channel 11 so as to sandwich the molding channel 11 therebetween. The air vent channel 27 located on one side is provided to face the discharge port 9a when the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b communicates with the molding channel 11, and the air vent channel 28 located on the other side The discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is provided so as to face the discharge port 9b when communicating with the molding flow path 11.

The air bleeding operation of the raw material feeder 4D configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 9A, when the discharge port 9b of the other hopper 2b communicates with the inflow port 15a and the one hopper 2a is in a standby state, the remaining resin material R of the other hopper 2b is little. It is time to switch to one hopper 2a. Therefore, heating and melting of the resin material R in one hopper 2 a is started, and the molten resin M is pushed out into the air vent channel 27. By the extrusion of the molten resin M, the air K staying in the discharge port 9a of one hopper 2a is completely discharged. Therefore, when the hoppers 2a and 2b are relatively rotated in the direction of the arrow L3 in FIG. 9B, the molten resin M that has been air-bleeded from one hopper 2a is supplied into the molding flow path 11.

  When the hoppers 2 a and 2 b are relatively rotated to the position shown in FIG. 10, the discharge port 9 b of the other hopper 2 b communicates with the air vent channel 28. The molten resin M remaining in the other hopper 2b is discharged through the air vent channel 28, and then a new resin material R can be filled in the other hopper 2b and placed in a standby state. .

  The above description is an example of removing the air K staying in one hopper 2a, but when removing the air K staying in the other hopper 2b, the air K staying in the other hopper 2b is removed. This is done through the air vent channel 27.

  In the raw material feeder 4D having the above-described configuration, the molten resin M is extruded after the air K existing in the discharge ports 9a and 9b of the hoppers 2a and 2ba is completely discharged. It is possible to prevent the air K from being mixed into the resin M, and it is possible to effectively prevent the optical transmission body from being deteriorated.

  In addition, the introduction flow path 15 formed in the adapters 3A to 3D shown in the first to fourth embodiments, the communication portion between the introduction flow path 15 and the molding flow path 11, and other air vent flow paths 25 to 28. In this case, it is preferable that the molten resin M flowing in the inside is smoothly passed by making an appropriate inclination or forming a curved shape instead of bending it at a right angle.

  Moreover, in the raw material supply machines 4A to 4D of the first to fourth embodiments, the description has been given by taking as an example one provided with two of the hoppers 2a and 2b, but the raw material supply machine of the present invention is the same. There is no limitation, and three or more hoppers may be provided, and the hoppers may be used in order by moving these hoppers relative to the adapter. Further, the plurality of hoppers 9a, 9b,... Are not limited to those arranged in one linear direction. For example, the hoppers 9a, 9b,... Are arranged on a virtual circumference on the surfaces of the adapters 3A to 3D. It may be one that rotates on the top.

  In the above-described example, an example in which the extrusion molding apparatus 1a including the raw material supply machines 4A to 4D is used in the optical transmission body manufacturing facility 1 that manufactures an optical fiber by melt extrusion molding is illustrated. As long as it is a thing, optical transmission bodies other than an optical fiber, and another molded article may be sufficient.

3A-3D Mold 2a Hopper (One hopper)
2b Hopper (the other hopper)
4A-4D Raw material feeders 9a, 9b Discharge port 15a Inlet 25-28 Air vent channel

Claims (3)

A raw material storage part that stores a resin material in an internal space extending in one direction, and a heating and melting part that is provided on the front end side of the raw material storage part and heats the resin material to form a molten resin. In a raw material supply machine comprising a hopper that is pushed out from a discharge port formed in the heating and melting part, and an adapter that flows in the molten resin pushed out from the discharge port through an inlet and discharges the molten resin into a mold.
The hopper is provided with a plurality, and the said the plurality of hoppers adapters, relative to at least any one of the discharge ports of the plurality of hoppers are constantly communicating the inlet of the adapter, the other discharge port is closed Can be moved to ,
Each of the discharge ports of the plurality of hoppers is switched between a state in communication with the inlet of the adapter and a closed state by relative movement of the plurality of hoppers and the adapter. Machine.   When the inflow port communicates with the one discharge port, the other discharge port communicates with the air vent channel capable of discharging the air in the other hopper, or the inflow port is When the one discharge port communicates with another discharge port, at least one of the air vent channels that can discharge the air in the one hopper is formed in the adapter. The raw material feeder according to claim 1, wherein The surface of the adapter having the inflow port opened is formed into a curved surface,
The plurality of hoppers are arranged along the curved surface, slide on the curved surface, and are provided to be movable relative to the adapter. 2. The raw material supply machine according to 2.

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